Meet Troy Also | Brand Owner & Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Troy Also and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Troy, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m originally from Los Angeles. I moved to Corona when I was in elementary school and once more to Riverside during my sophomore year of high school. Only to settle back in LA after college. I know that sounds like a mouthful, but theres a reason behind it. My whole life this question has always been a challenge for me to answer. Even though I moved a few times, my Granny has always lived in the same house in LA. So even with relocations, I still played sports at inner city parks where I made friends that I hold on to until this day.

Honestly, it’s always caused confusion for me. I’d say when I was younger, I dealt with a real identity crisis behind it. I remember getting to a point, when i was going to college, having friends that were going to prison for like real serious shit. I would just write “free” whoever it was on my cleats and play my football game. It was normal to me. I kind of followed that wrong path for a second until I realized it wasn’t for me. I think I just knew the world was bigger than what was around me and at some point snapped out of it. Also once I got to Riverside, I had a surge of white friends that was just as wild as my homies before. They introduced me to different world. Rock music, like the Red Hot Chili Peppers actually is what saved me from being a follower. I figured if I could play Californication while sliding down Western, then I could be myself.

It’s weird though because I really was just lost. I’m fortunate as hell to have grown up in a two parent household and didn’t realize it. My parents were worker bee’s, so I never really had any guidance from 6AM to 6PM. Though we lived in a high middle class area, we still struggled once we got there. That’s what drove me to T-shirts originally. I would draw the weirdest things because I was alone with my imagination and I remember showing my mom like, “Yo, look at this! I’m trying to make a T-shirt company”. Exact words… Mom’s response: “That shit don’t make no money”. After that I set out on this journey to prove her wrong by making a living via T-shirts. Watching my dad’s job skip him from state to state, with zero control of where they would send him next had the biggest impact on me. I fear getting too comfortable at a job more than I fear death.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business, Claytone, is built on giving back to people. Point blank, I want to sell shirts and grow the company organically in order to give back. I’m not money hungry so I don’t care to lose a dollar or two on helping save lives or building water wells in less fortunate places.

Claytone is unique because it exist in a space where almost no black owned brands exist. I’ve always been a fan of lifestyle brands. Growing up my mom had a friend who worked at the Billabong warehouse in Irvine. My mom did all my school shopping there and Downtown LA. I would have on like slim cut Lost jeans and a 2X Tall Tee.

So naturally I loved the Patagonia’s, RVCA’s, Nixon and the Billabong’s of the world. All I’m saying is can “we” have one, and if we do, can that one be Claytone? None of this is easy because of the demographic that Claytone attracts. It’s all organic, absolutely no hype. No one’s outside lined up for a Thursday morning Hurley “drop”, but you better be damn sure Hurley is still making money somehow. I really like the idea of organic growth no matter what. I respect it a lot more.

Plus I’ve been able to over come challenges of the market by simply adjusting. Claytone is a small business, so when I make changes that are drastic or re-brand it’s not as noticeable as if, let’s say Nike changes their logo, ya know? But notice I said simple adjustments though. If I made changes every time someone suggested it, I’d have to toss an idea every two seconds. So my main lesson to me is follow my gut. I’d hate for someone to come and fill my lane because I’m focused on everyone else’s.

My goal is to give the companies above a run for their money in the future. Claytone is a long play, like an investment. While some lottery winners go broke in a few years, Claytone the 401K will be compounding baby.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
It’s funny, I’ve got a set itinerary for everyone who comes to LA to visit and I really don’t deviate from it at all. For sure the first place I take everyone when they touchdown is to Hermosa Beach. No matter what night you go, shit gets weird, in a fun way. Plus I been going to that Sharkeez forever and it’s not far from the crib.

But for my upscale friends, I’m taking them straight to EPLP in We-Ho. Much different sophisticated vibe. When I was single I’d take a girl there and order a chicken sandwich for $9 and talk it up so they would get it too. Yes, it was really good but I’d apply pressure because I wasn’t looking to go over $20. I’m cheap as hell, I know.

The old me would take everyone to Fairfax as well, but I’m not really into the whole “cool-guy” lifestyle anymore. If I absolutely needed a substitute for my other plans. 31ten in Santa Monica if it still exist. That place went craze. I’m not vaccinated yet, so Iv’e been under a rock and it may not be open.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Man I’ve got a few friends that come to mind in this case. Angelo & Brandon Magee, Quae, David Thomas and Antwuan Dixon. I’ve played sports or held some form of organized competition with all of them. Now I won’t lie, I’m not Forrest Gump or Micahel Jordan. When shit get’s hard, I don’t have that bone to keep going. I am a quitter whole-heartedly and I know that. I’ve been that my whole life. If something gets crazy, I’m out of there. That goes for jobs, relationships, athletics or whatever.

At my all time lowest point in life, I felt I was becoming a burden on all my friends. I couldn’t control my alcohol. I would get invited places and ruin whatever great situation we had going. I was dealing with a lot of things beyond alcohol. I had a cool car, lived in a dark garage with no windows and when alone in this atmosphere, nothing good can come from that. I had my exit mapped out. I’m usually a happy person but I was hiding behind a smile and wasn’t in a great mental space. I was depressed for the first time in my life but knew these people cared about me. I couldn’t let them down. When most people quit on me or didn’t invite me because of the risk versus reward factor, these were the guys that invested time in rebuilding my mental, when they didn’t have to. I learned to lean on my friends. Each one of these guys helped me birth Claytone in some way when it was just a seed in my mind. I’m not sure if I can ever repay them for that.

They supported me and took a risk of supporting me. I have this unique ability and power where I’m metaphorically able to unlock any door in the world with charisma. That same gift becomes a curse sometimes and these guys where able to help me balance it by seeing the value in me. Thanks to them and their patience, I’m sober.

Also my daughter Zen. She’s definitely the flame to my candle and the reason I get up everyday. She made me find it in me to keep life going on a straight path. In the beginning I felt like a kid with a kid. I wasn’t happy with myself so I was doing all kind of BS. I thought I was raising her, but it seems more like she’s raising me.

Website: Claytone.us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claytone.us/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Claytone.us/

Image Credits
Dylan Van Mieghem Jasmine Walker